Enable dependency on picker wheels for touch-enabled devices by interpreting a second finger touch gesture

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for finger gestures. In one aspect there is provided a method, which may include detecting a first finger gesture proximate to or making contact with a graphical user interface element representative of a first picker wheel presented on a user interface; detecting a second finger gesture proximate to or making contact with the user interface, the second finger gesture detected during a time period comprising a time when the first finger gesture is proximate to or making contact with the first picker wheel; changing, when the second finger gesture is detected, a second picker wheel from an independent mode to a dependent mode; and updating, when in the dependent mode, the second picker wheel based on a selection value made via the first finger gesture at the first picker wheel. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to finger gestures on touchsensitive displays.

BACKGROUND

Touch-based devices have become increasingly important forcomputer-based devices. For example, smart phones, tablets, and otherdevices include touch sensitive user interfaces to allow a user to makeselections. Although touch-based devices may allow a user to touch auser interface to interact with the device, gestures used to interactwith the device may not be intuitive or may be difficult for some usersto gesture, making it difficult for the users to interact with thedevice via touch.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are providedfor finger gestures.

In one aspect there is provided a method, which may include detecting afirst finger gesture proximate to or making contact with a graphicaluser interface element representative of a first picker wheel presentedon a user interface; detecting a second finger gesture proximate to ormaking contact with the user interface, the second finger gesturedetected during a time period comprising a time when the first fingergesture is proximate to or making contact with the first picker wheel;changing, when the second finger gesture is detected, a second pickerwheel from an independent mode to a dependent mode; and updating, whenin the dependent mode, the second picker wheel based on a selectionvalue made via the first finger gesture at the first picker wheel.Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are alsodescribed.

In some implementations, the above-noted aspects may further includeadditional features described herein including one or more of thefollowing. The first picker wheel may represent a first rotatable wheelincluding one or more first items. The first picker wheel may bedisplayed to enable selection of the one or more first items via thefirst finger gesture. The one or more items may represent one or moredays of the month. The second picker wheel may represent a secondrotatable wheel including one or more second items. The second pickerwheel may be displayed to enable selection of the one or more seconditems via the second finger gesture. The one or more items may representone or more months of the year. The independent mode may configure thefirst picker wheel and the second picker wheels to operate independent,and the dependent mode may causes a selection at the first picker wheelto affect the second picker. The second picker wheel may be changed toan independent mode. The changing to the independent mode may betriggered by at least one of a time out period, a second touch of thesecond finger gesture, or non-contact by the first finger gesture.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive. Further features and/or variations may beprovided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, theimplementations described herein may be directed to various combinationsand subcombinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations andsubcombinations of several further features disclosed below in thedetailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings,

FIGS. 1A-1D depict examples of graphical user interfaces including 3picker wheels in independent mode;

FIGS. 2A-2B depict examples of graphical user interfaces including 3picker wheels in dependent mode;

FIG. 3 depicts an example of a system for changing picker wheels fromindependent mode to dependent mode based on a detection of a secondfinger gesture; and

FIG. 4 depicts an example of a process for changing picker wheels fromindependent mode to dependent mode based on a detection of a secondfinger gesture.

Like labels are used to refer to same or similar items in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A selection wheel (also referred as a so-called “picker wheel”) is agraphical user interface element representative of a rotatable, spinningwheel including items which can be selected by rotating, via a touchgesture on a touch screen, the wheel.

FIGS. 1A-1D depict an example of a graphic user interface 100 including3 graphical user interface elements representative of picker wheels 110,120, and 130. At FIG. 1A, the first picker wheel 110 corresponds to aday selection, so a single finger gesture 150, such as a downward swipeor an upward swipe, can be used to rotate/spin or otherwise move thepicker wheel until the desired date is selected (which in this exampleis moving the date from the 31st to the 1st). At FIG. 1B, the fingergesture 150 rotates the second picker wheel 120 to independently selecta month (which in this example moves the month from December toJanuary). Then, the finger gesture 150 at FIG. 1C moves to the thirdpicker wheel 130 to independently select a year (which in this casemoves the year from 2014 to 2015). FIG. 1D depicts the resultingsettings for the picker wheels 110-130.

Although FIG. 1 depicts a downward arrow, the wheels may be moved up ordown.

The example of FIGS. 1A-D show that the picker wheels are completelyindependent, so that although a date increment of only one day isrequired from Dec. 31, 2014 to Jan. 1, 2015, three independent wheelselections are needed in this example.

The subject matter described herein relates to configuring the graphicaluser interface elements so that a detection of a second finger gesturechanges the picker wheels from an independent wheel mode (in which eachwheel operates without regard to the others as described above withrespect to FIGS. 1A-D) to a dependent wheel mode (in which a change at agiven wheel affects another wheel).

FIG. 2A depicts an example of a graphical user interface 200 includingthree picker wheels 210, 220, and 230 corresponding to date, month, andyear picker wheels.

In the example of FIG. 2A, a first finger gesture 250 may select one ofthe picker wheels, such as picker wheel 210 to move the date from “31”to “1.” While the first finger gesture is making contact with the datepicker wheel 210, a second finger gesture 252 makes contact with aportion of user interface 200. When this is the case, the picker wheels210-230 change modes from an independent mode to a dependent mode.

While in dependent mode, a selection at the date picker wheel 210 mayhave an impact on the month picker wheel 220 and/or the year pickerwheel 230. In this example, moving the date at the date picker wheelfrom the 31st to the 1st causes the month wheel 220 to scroll toJanuary, which in turn causes the year picker wheel 230 to scroll to2015 as shown in FIG. 2B. And, if the picker wheel is moved back to the31st, the second picker wheel would move back to December due to thedependent mode operation of the picker wheels.

In some implementations, the dependent mode remains active so long asthe first finger gesture 250 makes contact with the user interface/touchscreen presenting the graphical user interface 200 and the second fingergesture 252 makes contact with a portion of the touch screen presentingthe graphical user interface 200. When this is the case, the firstfinger gesture 250 and/or the second finger gesture 252 not makingcontact returns the picker wheels to the independent mode.

In some implementations, the dependent mode is activated by a firsttouch (for example, a tap) of the second finger 252 while the firstfinger gesture 250 is making contact with a portion of the touch screenpresenting the graphical user interface 200. When this is the case, asecond touch by the second finger gesture 252 while the first fingergesture 250 is making contact with the touch screen may return thepicker wheels to an independent mode.

In some implementations, the dependent mode is activated so long as thesecond finger gesture 252 makes contact with a specific portion of theuser interface 200 while the first finger gesture 250 is also makingcontact with a touch screen presenting the graphical user interface 200.For example, the second finger gesture 252 may be required to touch thesecond picker wheel 220 and/or the third picker wheel 230 (or adesignated portion) to change mode into a dependent mode.

In some implementations, the dependent mode may remain active for agiven time period (for example, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, and/or other times as well) after thesingle tap of the second finger gesture 252, after which the modereturns to independent mode.

In some implementations, detecting that the second finger gesture 252makes contact with the second picker wheel 220 (while the first fingergesture 250 is making contact with a portion associated with the firstpicker wheel 210) makes the picker wheels 210 and 220 dependent but notthe third picker wheel 230 unless the second finger gesture 252 alsotouches for example the third picker wheel 230.

Although the previous examples refers to specific types of picker wheels(for example, date, month, and year selection), other types of data maybe selected via picker wheels as well. The picker wheels may also beused to dependently pick for example hours, minutes, and seconds (forexample, “9”-“30”-“PM”), data and time (for example,“2014-11-11”-“9”-“30”-“PM”), and/or prices (for example, “3 Euro”-“50cent”).

Furthermore, although the examples refer to touching a portion of thegraphical user interface, touch may refer to touching a touch sensitivedisplay or interface. Moreover, the touch may comprise a proximate touchas some touch sensitive displays can detect a figure touch withoutactual contact (for example, some capacitive touch displays do notrequire actual contact with the touch display) on the display.

FIG. 3 depicts a system 399 for detecting second finger gestures 252that trigger a change in mode of picker wheels from independent todependent (and/or vice versa), in accordance with some exampleimplementations. The description of FIG. 3 also refers to FIGS. 2A-2B.

System 300 may include graphical user interface 200, a processor 397,and a gesture detector 392.

The graphical user interface 300 may include one or more graphical userinterface elements, such as picker wheels 210-230. The graphical userinterface may be implemented via a display including one or more touchsensitive regions where finger gestures 250 and 252 can be detected. Forexample, an application, such as a browser and the like, may generate apage, such as HTML, including the picker wheels 210-230, so that thepicker wheels can be rotated, selected, and the like via touch (forexample, an upward or downward movement or swipe) on the touch sensitivedisplay.

The processor 397 may include at least one processor circuitry and atleast one memory circuitry including computer code, which when executedmay provide one or more of the operations disclosed herein. Gesturedetector 392 may be implemented using processor 397, although gesturedetector 392 may be implemented using dedicated processor circuitryand/or portions of gesture detector 392 may be incorporated into userinterface 200 and/or a touch sensitive display (as well as correspondingtouch sensitive display circuitry).

FIG. 4 depicts a process 400 for detecting a two finger gesture thatchanges the state of picker wheels from independent to dependent (and/orvice versa), in accordance with some example implementations. Thedescription of FIG. 4 also refers to FIGS. 2A-B and 3.

At 410, a first finger gesture associated with a first picker wheel maybe detected. For example, when finger gesture 250 touches (or isproximate to) a touch sensitive display presenting picker wheel 210,gesture detector 392 may detect this touch event by first finger gesture250 with respect to picker wheel 210.

At 420, a second finger gesture may be detected while the first fingergesture is making contact with a portion of the graphical userinterface. For example, gesture detector 392 may detect second fingergesture 252 while the first finger gesture 250 is making contact with aportion of the graphical user interface. When this is the case, gesturedetector 392 may indicate a change in operating mode to a dependent mode(yes at 420). In some example implementations, the gesture detector isconfigured to allow the first finger gesture 250 to momentarily (forexample, 2, seconds, 3, seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30 seconds,and/or other times as well) not make contact with the touch screen butstill register a detection of the second finger gesture 252.

If the gesture detector 392 does not detect second finger gesture 252while the first finger gesture 250 is making contact with a portion ofthe graphical user interface, the gesture detector 392 may stay in theindependent mode (no at 420). For example, while the first fingergesture 250 is making contact with the picker wheel 210, gesturedetector 292 may detect second finger gesture 252 making contact with aportion of the touch screen, such as one of the other picker wheelsand/or another predetermined portion of the touch screen presentinggraphical user interface 200. As noted above, the gesture detector may,in some implementations, only recognize the second finger gesture 252when the first finger gesture 250 is actually moving or making contactwith the picker wheel 210.

At 430, the picker wheels may operate in independent mode. If the secondfinger gesture 252 is not detected by for example the gesture detector,the picker wheels may operate independently as noted above with respectto FIG. 1A-1D, so that a change at a given picker wheel does not affectanother picker wheel.

At 440, the picker wheel may be configured to operate in a dependentmode. If the second finger gesture is detected by for example thegesture detector, the picker wheels may operate in the dependent mode,so that a change at a given picker wheel does affect another pickerwheel as noted for example with respect to FIGS. 2A-2B. Additionally oralternatively, gesture detector may stay in the dependent mode so longas the first finger gesture 250 is making contact with the userinterface/touch screen and the second finger gesture 252 makes contactwith the user interface/touch screen as well. In this example, when thefirst finger gesture 250 and/or the second finger gesture 252 do notmake contact with the user interface and/or touch screen, the gesturedetector changes picker wheel mode to independent mode.

When in dependent mode, operation of a second picker wheel may beupdated, at 450, based on the value of the first picker wheel. Forexample, when the first picker wheel moves via the first finger gesture250 from the 31^(st) to the “1^(st)”, the processor and/or gesturedetector may update the picker wheels 220 and 230 to dependently move toJanuary and 2015 as described above with respect to FIG. 2A-2B.

At 460, the mode may return to independent mode. The gesture detectorand/or processor may trigger a reversion to the independent mode. Thisreversion may occur after a predetermined timeout period. Alternativelyor additionally, a second touch by the second finger gesture 252 maytrigger the reversion to the independent mode. Alternatively oradditionally, ceasing the touching by the first finger gesture 250and/or the second finger gesture may trigger the reversion to theindependent mode. Alternatively or additionally, the dependent mode mayrevert to independent mode when a second touch by the second fingergesture 252 is detected while the first finger gesture 250 is makingcontact with the touch screen. Alternatively or additionally, thedependent mode may remain active for a given time period (for example,10 seconds, 20 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, and/or other times as well)after a single tap of the second finger gesture 252, after which themode returns to independent mode.

Although the previous example describes a specific use case, other usescases may be implemented as well.

Furthermore, although the previous example described the second fingergesture 252 as a touch or tap of the user interface, other gestures maybe used as well. For example, other gestures, such as a pinch as well asany other gesture with the second finger may be used as well. Moreover,the touches may be proximate, as noted, to the user interface (so actualcontact may not occur).

Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application ofthe claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of theexample embodiments disclosed herein is enhanced control of pickerwheels presented on a device, such as handheld devices including cellphones, tablets, smart phones, and/or laptops/computers having touchsensitive displays.

Various implementations of the subject matter described herein may berealized in digital electronic circuitry, integrated circuitry,specially designed ASICs (application specific integrated circuits),computer hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations thereof.These various implementations may include implementation in one or morecomputer programs that are executable and/or interpretable on aprogrammable system including at least one programmable processor, whichmay be special or general purpose, coupled to receive data andinstructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storagesystem, at least one input device, and at least one output device.

These computer programs (also known as programs, software, softwareapplications, or code) include machine instructions for a programmableprocessor, and may be implemented in a high-level procedural and/orobject-oriented programming language, and/or in assembly/machinelanguage. As used herein, the term “machine-readable medium” refers toany non-transitory computer program product, apparatus and/or device(e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks, memory, Programmable Logic Devices(PLDs)) used to provide machine instructions and/or data to aprogrammable processor, including a machine-readable medium thatreceives machine instructions.

To provide for interaction with a user, the subject matter describedherein may be implemented on a computer having a display device (e.g., aCRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor) fordisplaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device(e.g., a mouse or a trackball) by which the user may provide input tothe computer. Other kinds of devices may be used to provide forinteraction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to theuser may be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback,auditory feedback, or tactile feedback); and input from the user may bereceived in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

Although a few variations have been described in detail above, othermodifications are possible. For example, while the descriptions ofspecific implementations of the current subject matter discuss analyticapplications, the current subject matter is applicable to other types ofsoftware and data services access as well. Moreover, although the abovedescription refers to specific products, other products may be used aswell. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figuresand described herein do not require the particular order shown, orsequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other embodiments may bewithin the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A system comprising: at least one processor; and atleast one memory including computer program code which when executed byat least one processor causes operations comprising: detecting a firstfinger gesture proximate to or making contact with a graphical userinterface element including a first picker wheel presented on a userinterface; detecting a second finger gesture proximate to or makingcontact with the user interface, the second finger gesture is located onthe user interface and outside of the graphical user interface elementand is detected during a time period comprising a time when the firstfinger gesture is proximate to or making contact with the first pickerwheel; changing, in response to detecting the second finger gesture, asecond picker wheel from an independent mode to a dependent mode,wherein when in the independent mode, the second picker wheel iseditable without regard to the first picker wheel, wherein when in thedependent mode, the second picker wheel is editable and a change in thefirst picker wheel affects the second picker wheel; updating, when inthe dependent mode, the second picker wheel based on a selection valuemade via the first finger gesture at the first picker wheel; andchanging the second picker wheel to the independent mode, wherein thechanging to the independent mode is triggered by a time out period. 2.The system of claim 1, wherein the first picker wheel represents a firstrotatable wheel including one or more first items, the first pickerwheel displayed to enable selection of the one or more first items viathe first finger gesture.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the one ormore first items represent one or more days of the month.
 4. The systemof claim 1, wherein the second picker wheel represents a secondrotatable wheel including one or more second items, the second pickerwheel displayed to enable selection of the one or more second items viathe second finger gesture.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the one ormore second items represent one or more months of the year.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the second picker wheel operates in thedependent mode so long as the first finger gesture and the second figuregesture are detected proximate to or making contact with the userinterface.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the changing to theindependent mode is further triggered by at least one of a second touchof the second finger gesture and a non-contact by the first fingergesture.
 8. A method comprising: detecting a first finger gestureproximate to or making contact with a graphical user interface elementincluding a first picker wheel presented on a user interface; detectinga second finger gesture proximate to or making contact with the userinterface, the second finger gesture is located on the user interfaceand outside of the graphical user interface element and is detectedduring a time period comprising a time when the first finger gesture isproximate to or making contact with the first picker wheel; changing, inresponse to detecting the second finger gesture, a second picker wheelfrom an independent mode to a dependent mode, wherein when in theindependent mode, the second picker wheel is editable without regard tothe first picker wheel, wherein when in the dependent mode, the secondpicker wheel is editable and a change in the first picker wheel affectsthe second picker wheel; updating, when in the dependent mode, thesecond picker wheel based on a selection value made via the first fingergesture at the first picker wheel; and changing the second picker wheelto the independent mode, wherein the changing to the independent mode istriggered by a time out period.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein thefirst picker wheel represents a first rotatable wheel including one ormore first items, the first picker wheel displayed to enable selectionof the one or more first items via the first finger gesture.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the one or more first items represent one ormore days of the month.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the secondpicker wheel represents a second rotatable wheel including one or moresecond items, the second picker wheel displayed to enable selection ofthe one or more second items via the second finger gesture.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the one or more second items represent oneor more months of the year.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein thesecond picker wheel operates in the dependent mode so long as the firstfinger gesture and the second figure gesture are detected proximate toor making contact with the user interface.
 14. The method of claim 8,wherein the changing to the independent mode is further triggered by atleast one of a second touch of the second finger gesture and anon-contact by the first finger gesture.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium including computer program code whichwhen executed by at least one processor causes operations comprising:detecting a first finger gesture proximate to or making contact with agraphical user interface element including a first picker wheelpresented on a user interface; detecting a second finger gestureproximate to or making contact with the user interface, the secondfinger gesture is located on the user interface and outside of thegraphical user interface element and is detected during a time periodcomprising a time when the first finger gesture is proximate to ormaking contact with the first picker wheel; changing, in response todetecting the second finger gesture, a second picker wheel from anindependent mode to a dependent mode, wherein when in the independentmode, the second picker wheel is editable without regard to the firstpicker wheel, wherein when in the dependent mode, the second pickerwheel is editable and a change in the first picker wheel affects thesecond picker wheel; updating, when in the dependent mode, the secondpicker wheel based on a selection value made via the first fingergesture at the first picker wheel; and changing the second picker wheelto the independent mode, wherein the changing to the independent mode istriggered by a time out period.
 16. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 15, wherein the first picker wheel represents afirst rotatable wheel including one or more first items, the firstpicker wheel displayed to enable selection of the one or more firstitems via the first finger gesture.
 17. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or morefirst items represent one or more days of the month.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein thesecond picker wheel represents a second rotatable wheel including one ormore second items, the second picker wheel displayed to enable selectionof the one or more second items via the second finger gesture.